Ridicule

n. [ F. ridicule, L. ridiculum a jest, fr. ridiculus. See Ridiculous. ] 1. An object of sport or laughter; a laughingstock; a laughing matter. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ Marlborough ] was so miserably ignorant, that his deficiencies made him the ridicule of his contemporaries. Buckle. [ 1913 Webster ]

To the people . . . but a trifle, to the king but a ridicule. Foxe. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Remarks concerning a subject or a person designed to excite laughter with a degree of contempt; wit of that species which provokes contemptuous laughter; disparagement by making a person an object of laughter; banter; -- a term lighter than derision. [ 1913 Webster ]

We have in great measure restricted the meaning of ridicule, which would properly extend over whole region of the ridiculous, -- the laughable, -- and we have narrowed it so that in common usage it mostly corresponds to “derision”, which does indeed involve personal and offensive feelings. Hare. [ 1913 Webster ]

Safe from the bar, the pulpit, and the throne,
Yet touched and shamed by ridicule alone. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Quality of being ridiculous; ridiculousness. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To see the ridicule of this practice. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Derision; banter; raillery; burlesque; mockery; irony; satire; sarcasm; gibe; jeer; sneer; ribbing. -- Ridicule, Derision, mockery, ribbing: All four words imply disapprobation; but ridicule and mockery may signify either good-natured opposition without manifest malice, or more maliciously, an attempt to humiliate. Derision is commonly bitter and scornful, and sometimes malignant. ribbing is almost always good-natured and fun-loving. [ 1913 Webster ]